Dumbledore's Nitwit

[drjuliehoward]

No: HPFGUIDX 92899

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "suehpfan" <stanleys at s...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sbursztynski" 
> <greatraven at h...> wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "drjuliehoward" 
> > <drjuliehoward at y...> wrote:
> > > I tried searching the archives but coule not find anything on 
> > this.  
> > > It is from the first book, so something must have been posted 
> > about 
> > > it.  On US hardback 123, Dumbledore's few words were "Nitwit!  
> > > Blubber!  Oddment!  Tweak!  Thank you!"
> > > Question 1: What in the world does it mean?
> > > Question 2: Are they the same in the UK version?
> > > 
> > > Julie
> > 
> > Sue B:
> > 
> > My impression was that it was tongue-in-cheek. When people 
> > say, "I want to say just a few words," they usually mean they 
want 
> > to make a speech, however short. But he actually did just say "a 
> > few words", to start the term off with a joke.
> 
> And the other Sue (not to be confused with any of the Susans :):
> I thought after reading the other books that perhaps he was 
calling 
> out names of house elves down in the kitchen.  One elf for each 
> table.  I agree with the other Sue that it was probably also 
intended 
> to show DD's sense of humor. Sort of like the singing of the 
school 
> song which we have never seen again.

I, too, had thought it was to show his sense of humor, but one thing 
I have learned on this list...never assume that when it comes to 
JKR!  The way she hides clues is masterful, and I didn't know if 
this was one of those times or not.  I had not thought about them 
possibly being names for House Elves.  That is an interesting 
thought.